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Warmth by Musical Art: A Look at Jose Mari Chan (Part 4 of 6)


Born into a Filipino-Chinese family, Jose Mari Chan's awards include the TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men in the Philippines) award in 1974, Dangal ng Musikang Pilipino Award in 1997, KATHA Music Award in 2002, and more recently, 25th Aliw Awards and 4th STAR Awards for Music Philippines Movie Press Club, both in year 2012.

Knowledge of his background and prestige made me nervous and excited at once to conduct an interview with Sir Chan. Despite the distance brought about by email correspondence, the responses to my questions were still as heart-grabbing as each composition he creates and sings to life.

Who or what was your primary inspiration to start Music at a young age? How were they—or how was it—inspiring?

Chan: “Where I grew up—in Iloilo city—there was music constantly flowing in our home. My maternal grandmother loved music and if it wasn't coming from the radio, it would be emanating from her large record collection. My mother enjoyed playing the piano at home, too. So as you can imagine, I was exposed to music from early childhood.”

How was your background in music developed?

Chan: “Most of what I wrote in the early years of my songwriting are crude. It was not until I turned 20 when my exposure to music was a bit more extensive and varied. And my songs reflected it.

“One of my earliest compositions that later became a hit for me is "Deep in My Heart". Written when I was 20 years old. My love for singing gave me the opportunity to participate in school programs, from my high school to my college years. It was an excellent opening, too, for my original songs to be heard by a wider audience.”

When did you begin composing your own music? How did it come about?

Chan: “I was about 12 or 13 years old when I wrote my first song—words and music—not just melody. Somehow, there were always strains of melodies running through my head, it was just a matter of plucking them out and putting them on paper, so to speak.”

What or who are the inspirations you looked to when composing music?

Chan: “Up until the mid-50s, most of the recording stars and singers who were popular, sang songs that were written for them by others. Suddenly, towards the end of the 50s, there arose on the scene, a crop of singers-songwriters like Paul Anka, Teddy Randazzo, [and many others] who proudly sang and recorded their own material. They became my very first inspiration to become my own singer-songwriter.”

What, if any, is the primary theme you wish to communicate in the music you make?

Chan: “Love was the most natural theme for my songs. All through the long history of music, it was mostly about Love that songs were written. Young love, broken hearts, unrequited love, [and more].

“I experimented with different ways of expressing how I felt. And as I matured from juvenile emotions and began to meet girls in high school and in college, so did my songs.”

(End of interview)

Jose Mari Chan also shared the sentimentality his songs hold: “Through the years, my songs mirrored my life's experience and expressed how I felt growing up. My songs expressed my yearnings and aspirations. And even frustrations.” His statement affirms the personal quality found in his music, both artfully written and wonderfully sung. To this day, a Filipino who would hear his familiar charming baritone voice singing a love-filled tune would find his or her heartstrings being tugged at, and would carry on with the activities of the day with a warm, love-filled heart. With Jose Mari Chan’s music, one can see how warmth is achieved by the art.

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